November 27, 2012: My name is Joe and I am a fantasy football addict!

Depressed.

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I had to take a couple of melatonin tablets to fall to sleep last night and ended up dreaming of risky rooftop ball hockey, precariously perched apartments, and Vegas (for some reason, I always dream of Vegas).  Why?  Did I receive some distressing news? Was I upset by a sudden sad turn of events?  Why, yes and yes.

My Snow Monkey, down 30+ points heading into the weekend, came roaring back to to take a 38 point leading into the Monday night game, all but assuring themselves a spot in the post-season.  Only to lose by 6 points.  The loss leaves us tied for the last playoff spot with one game to play.  Ultimately, it’s partly my fault for believing in wide receiver James Jones, partly James Jones’ fault for not putting in a better effort, but mostly, MOSTLY, quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ fault for not once – NOT ONCE! – targeting Jones.  Instead, the Packers focused on establishing the run game – DOWN 3 TOUCHDOWNS! Rodgers threw to everyone BUT Jones – and ended up losing the game, and possibly costing my Snow Monkeys their season.  If I had played someone else, anyone else – Beanie Well!  Malcom Floyd!  Ryan Broyles!  Daniel Thomas!  Hell, even terminally underperforming Dwayne Bowe! – I would have won!

Rodgers and the Packers have officially supplanted the New England Patriots as my #1 team to root against moving forward.  As a result, the Patriots move down to #2 and the rest of the hated teams slide accordingly – the Eagles to #3, Broncos to #4, Jets to #5, 49ers to #6, and the Steelers to #7.

The fates have truly conspired against me.  I was the second highest scoring team of the week – but had the misfortune of playing the top highest scoring team of the week.  Again!

Take a look at the standings…

I mean COME ON!  There we are, sitting in 8th place – a team that has outscored almost every other team in the league except one!

Seriously.  These are my weeks during the fantasy football season:

Tuesday is committed to researching free agent players to add to my bench.  Tuesday nights are long since I’m up until 1:00 a.m. to learn who picked up what player off the waiver wires and, most importantly, find out if I got the players I selected.

Wednesday is spent researching the match-ups for the coming weekend.

I spend Thursday tweaking my starting line-up in advance of any Thursday night match-ups (this Thursday, my QB, Drew Brees, plays against the red hot Atlanta Falcons!) and putting in any late waiver wire requests.

On Friday, I input the stats from the previous night’s game and try to gauge my chances of holding on for the win/pulling off the upset.

Saturday is spent lamenting the fact that I had to wait over two days for more football – and distracting myself with college ball.

Sunday = the BIG day!  Up at 8:00 am, pre-game shows to 10:00 a.m., and then games, games, games!  I’m jumpier than a squirrel with ADD, hopping from one channel to another, catching a TD pass here, a big run there, a blocked field goal, interception return, occasionally the odd sack.  By night’s end, whether I’m jubilant, despondent, or anxiously optimistic – I am also thoroughly exhausted.

Monday’s are a staggered succession of insignificant make-work tasks designed to make time fly enroute to the big Monday Night game where all is either won or lost.  Depending on how things pan out, I either enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep, content in the knowledge that I am one step closer to that coveted playoff spot, or lie awake at night, analyzing the choices and plain bad luck that contributed to my looming downfall.

I also find time to eat, walk the dogs, and update this blog.

So it all comes down to next week’s game against the Savela Skitters, managed by my buddy and former Stargate VFX Supervisor (and future “that secret project” VFX Supervisor?) Mark Savela.  Win and we’re in.  Lose and my Snow Monkeys are done.  And I’ll be very, very, VERY angry.

All is not lost.  Not yet.  But it’s going to be a loooong week.

Focus!

(Brian Peterson / Zuma Press)

P.S. I was so upset by the loss that Akemi informed me this would be my last year of fantasy football.

Tagged: fantasy football